Improvement in washing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. ELSTON, OF FRANKFORT, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,952, dated July 16, 1878 application filed May 15, 1878.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. ELSTON, of Frankfort, in the county of Clinton and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

rlhis invention relates to certain improvements in washing-machines; and the invention consists in the special construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a transverse section taken near the forward end. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line w w of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the connecting-rods.

A represents a rectangular body supported by legs B and B. Within the body A is arranged a spring-frame, consisting of lon gitudinal slats O and transverse pieces D, the pieces D being supported by semi-elliptical springs E.

Under the body A, and between the two back legs B', is arranged an axle, F. To the center of this axle F one end of a treadle, Gr, is attached, which extends forward and projects a suitable distance in front of the body, as shown in Fig. 2 of drawing.

The treadle G near its forward end is provided with an elongated slot, a, to receive the end c of a vertical piece, H, the end c of said piece H being held in place by a pin, b, passing through its protruding end under the treadle, as shown in Fig. 2 of drawing. The vertical piece H is secured to the front of the body A by a band, H', or other suitable device, admitting of its vertical sliding movement. This sliding piece H is also provided with a handle, I, to be used, when desired, for manipulating the machine.

Under the body A, and about midway thereof, is secured to the treadle G a cross-piece, J, the ends of which project just beyond the sides of the body A, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In the body A, on top of the bottom or springframe, is placed a suitable slatted frame consisting of side pieces K and transversely-arranged slats L, the slats L being secured to the bottom of the side pieces K in any suitable manner.

To the side pieces K, and about midway thereof, are secured vertically-proj ectin g arms M. The upper or enlarged ends N of these arms M are provided with eyes O, through which passes a horizontal rod, P. The extended ends of this rod P pass into suitable perforations Q in the upper ends of the connectingrods R, which extend down on the outside of the body A. The lower ends of these connecting-rods are pivoted or otherwise suitably secured to the projecting ends of the crosspiece J, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The connecting-rods R are held to the sides of the body A by screw-eyes S, or such other devices as will allow the required movement thereof.

The upper frame may be removed by disengaging the horizontal bar P. The clothes to be washed are placed. on top of the lower frame', as shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, and the top frame is then placed back in its proper position. The clothes are then washed by being forced back and forth in the water alternately by the lever and spring frame, the water passing through the clothes on each up-and-down movement, and thereby thoroughly cleansing them.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a washing-machine, the combination of the treadle G, cross-piece J, connecting-rods R, horizontal rod P, and arms lVI with an upper pounding-frame and a lower spring-holding frame, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. ELSTON. Witnesses:

J oHN W. PESCE, JOHN Kinn. 

